Former Anambra governor and Labour Party (LP) flag-bearer Peter Obi has launched a scathing attack on both federal and state authorities, branding recent forced demolitions as illegal, cruel, and emblematic of a lawless state.
His only brother’s property is the latest victim, raising critical questions: Is Nigeria silently embracing tyranny?
Peter Obi decried the destruction: “The hapless citizens… battling multi‑dimensional poverty… shouldn’t be subjected to additional stress.”
He slammed officials for prioritising demolitions over compassion, warning these actions only deepen the economic wound in an already fragile nation.
⚠️ Bulldozers As State Terror?
The latest case involves Obi’s own kin — his brother’s property razed amid claims of illegality.
Many argue this isn’t mere enforcement of zoning but a politically driven message: no one is safe—even those with deep political ties.
Civil society groups condemned the demolition as a “Gestapo style” abuse of power .
But for Obi: “There should be compensation… Nigeria is governed by law”—yet evidently, many are bulldozed without recourse.
A System In Crisis
This is not an isolated indignity: Lagos, Kano, the FCT—mass demolitions have become state-sanctioned spectacles.
Governments defend them as environmental or zoning enforcement.
But Obi pegged their timing as cruel, describing them as “counterproductive… ill‑timed” amid nationwide suffering .
The Lawless State?
Obi’s message is clear: Nigeria is drifting toward lawlessness, where might makes right—and bulldozers enforce that might.
The absence of due process, fairness, or compensation chokes the spirit of rule of law and accountability.
This is no longer a debate about zoning—it’s about govt overreach and the weaponization of state power.
The repeated demolitions of citizens’ structures without redress amount to political theatre.
Why It Matters
For Civil Liberties: If arbitrary demolition becomes normalized, citizen rights shrink—confidence in courts, regulators, and governance crumbles.
>For Political Balance: Obi’s confrontation signals a widening chasm between citizens and an overbearing state that uses public space as political playthings.
>For the Coming Campaign: With growing authoritarian undertones, opposition voices are left exposed. Obi’s challenge is a clarion call for resistance—or retreat.
Also Read: FCT: One Killed, 3 Injured As Police Command Foil Robbery Attack
Peter Obi’s fierce rebuke begs the question: Is Nigeria becoming a nation where power, not legislation, dictates legality?
If your brother’s home isn’t safe, what remains of your rights?
